Leeds child heart unit closure 'to be reconsidered'

A High Court judge has quashed part of an NHS consultation process vital for introducing "long overdue" changes to children's heart surgery services across the country.

The judge acted after recently ruling that the process was legally flawed in relation to the decision to close the children's heart unit at Leeds General Infirmary.

Sitting at London's High Court, Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, said aspects of the Leeds consultations, including a failure to make relevant information available to consultees, was "ill judged".

But she stressed today she was only quashing "one part" of the JCPCT decision so that there could be "re-consultation and reconsideration" over the Leeds closure.